Identification device



March 11, 1941. H. FRANKE IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Filed July 15,, 1959fflvenfor:

HE\NRICH FRPINKE ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Application July 15, 1939, Serial No.284,799 In Germany July 16, 1938 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an identification device, and refers moreparticularly to a device for identifying photographs of images appearingon luminescent screens and resulting particularly 5 from X-rayradiation.

It is customary to photograph the image of a patient or object appearingupon a luminescent screen and produced by the X-rays, by means of aphotographic apparatus upon a light-sensitive or photographic layer. Inthe course of this work, it was found advisable to provide eachphotographic image with an inscription or insignia which would identifythe photograph and refer it to a specific patient, or to a specific workor operation. The use of lead marks upon each photograph or of aseparate photographic process and system for photographing the insigniawas found to be cumbersome and inconvenient.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device throughthe use of which the X-ray image appearing upon a screen, andilluminated insignia functioning as a light-emitting orlight-transmitting image, are both photographed by the same photographicapparatus.

Other objects of the present invention will appear in the course of thefollowing specification.

Some of the objects of the present invention may be realized through theprovision of a device including a casing which receives an inscribedidentification card and which is provided with an opening directedtoward the photographic apparatus used to photograph the X- ray imageupon a screen. This device may be combined with a source of lightilluminating the identification card within the casing and a mirror maybe provided within the casing for refleeting the light rays falling uponthe identification card toward the photographic apparatus.

The photographic apparatus may be provided with other means making thephotographic process more easy and more secure and dependable, as willbe described hereinafter.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,showing by way of example in Figure 1 a diagram illustrating in sideelevation a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

The device comprises a single photographic apparatus a containing alight-sensitive film g which is moved within the photographic apparatusby a transporting device.

The photographic apparatus a is directed toward a luminescent screen 1)upon which the X- ray images appear and which is illuminated by anysuitable source of X-rays. I

The photographic apparatus ais used not only for photographing theimages appearing upon the screen b, but also to photograph an 5identification card it or other insignia used for identifying the imageappearing upon the screen b. Thus a single photographic apparatus isused to perform both photographic operations.

The insignia identifying each; photographic 10 apparatus can be of anysuitable form or shape and may be represented by any suitable object. Inthe described example, the card d is used for this purpose, which may befiled away with other similar cards whenever it is not in use. This cardis provided with suitable inscriptions identifying the patient beingexamined or the type of work or specific operation in the course ofwhich the photographs are taken.

The card 11 is inserted into a body or casing e 20 for photographingpurposes. The casing e has the form of a tunnel protecting the image ofthe card if from being blurred. The casing may consist of two parts orsections one of which may have the form of a tunnel-like guiding slot 25into which the card (i is inserted so that it can be easily removed fromthe casing e and exchanged for another one as soon as the operator isprepared to take the picture of another object or patient. 30

A source of light 0 which may be an ordinary electric lamp is used toilluminate the card at while the latter is situated within the casing e.The source 0 is preferably extinguished when the cards are being removedand replaced. 35

The second portion of the casing e preferably has the form of aflange-like or tube-like body which prevents rays of light from anyother source which could blur the image of the card 12, from interferingwith the photographic process.

The casing e preferably contains a mirror f, which is so located thatthe rays of light emitted by the source 0 and falling upon the card dare reflected by that card toward the mirror I 45 while the mirror 1reflects these rays toward the photographic apparatus a.

The photographic apparatus a is used for pho tographing the imageappearing upon the screen b in the usual manner, namely, the shutter of50 the photographic apparatus is opened and a section of thelight-sensitive film g is exposed for a period of time necessary toobtain a good picture upon the light-sensitive film.

The lamp 0 may be. switched on by hand at I be provided which cooperatewith the X-ray tube to cause the card d to be photographed by thephotographic apparatus for a photographically correct time intervalbearing a predetermined relationship in time to the period ofluminescence of the screen 11.- In other words,

the illumination of the card (1 can occur'before;

during, or after the appearance of the image upon the screen b and cantake place automatis cally for the required correct time period.- a

It is advantageous to combine the switch oper-ating the source of lightwith the switch of the. X-ray apparatus, so that the lamp 0 .is switchedon at the same time when the X-ray apparatus is switched on. Theconstruction should be such that the lamp 0 remains switched on for aperiod of time necessary to obtain a good image of the card d upon thelight-sensitive film y. The period of time during which the lamp 0 isswitched on should be independent of the duration of the photographingof the X-ray image upon the screen. Therefore, a device may be providedwhich connects the X-ray apparatus with the lamp 0 and which causes thelamp cto illuminate the card 41 independently of the operation of theX-ray apparatus for a time period required for the correctphotographing-of the card I by the photographic apparatransportation ofthe film y. In other words,

the shutter device may be coupled with the X- ray apparatus to expose apart of the film 9 directly before the beginning of the luminescence ofthe screen I) and to interruptthis exposure at the latest before theexposed part of the film is moved away by the transporting device. Bymeans of this construction, the after-flow of the image appearing uponthe screen I) is utilized for obtaining a better picture upon thelight-sensitive film 9. At the same time, the after-flow of thepreceding image is prevented from interfering with the photographing ofthe following image.

It is also advisable to provide means coupling the transporting devicefor the film g with the photographing means in such manner that theopening of the shutter of the photographic apparatus takes place onlyafter the film-transporting device has been actuated to remove the usedpart of the film from its former position in iront of the shutter. Thenthe possibility that two photographs may be taken upon the same part ofthe light sensitive film is avoided. This device, which is used per sein ordinary photography, locks the shutter device in the closed positionof the latter unless a previously exposed part of the film has beenremovedfrom its operative position in front of the shutter device by thefilm-transporting device.

In order to prevent the film-transporting device from being actuatedbefore the section of the film situated in front of the shutter devicehas been exposed, the film-transport n device may be provided withlocking means which are also known per se in ordinary photography for.the purpose of preventing a further transportation of the film, untilthat portion of the film which is situated inthe operative position infront of the shutter device has been exposed.

It is apparent that the specific illustration shown above has been givenby way of illustrae tion and not by way of limitation, and that thestructure above described is subject to wide variation and modificationwithout departing from the scope or intent of the invention; all ofwhich variations and modifications are to be included within the scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A device for identifying photographs of luminous screens, said devicecomprising a casing having two portions, one of said portions receivingan identification card; and a mirror carried by said portion to reflectlight from said identification card; the other one of said portionscomprising a fiange enclosing an opening formed in said casing fortransmitting light reflected by said mirror to a light-sensitive layer.4

HEINRICH FRANKE.

